Council weighs farming at old plant site

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Published 7:00 pm, Friday, March 11, 2005

Sounds simple, but it's not.

Ek is a retired "jack of all trades" who farms, fixes old houses, does landscape work and volunteers with Equine Angels Rescue Sanctuary, a non-profit organization that rescues foals of thoroughbred mares raised primarily to produce the estrogen Premarin.

Ek's goal is to produce nutritious, organic hay now in short supply to feed the horses that are locally boarded.

To grow the hay, though, Ek needs Town Council permission for a license that would let him use the north end of the once-contaminated, 72-acre brass mill that has undergone an extensive cleanup effort to make the property marketable for commercial or industrial development.

The Town Council is scheduled to discuss his proposal Monday night.

Two weeks ago, Ek made his first pitch for the project to the council after meeting with Mayor Patricia Murphy. He received a lukewarm reception.

Some council members are worried about granting Ek use of land that might be sold. They also aren't sure the soil is safe for farming. Others members said they like Ek's plan as long as he has approvals from the state Department of Environmental Protection; Connecticut Light & Power, which owns utility easements on the property; and the Inland/Wetlands Commission.

Town attorney Randy DiBella told council members Ek would use the land under a licensing agreement the town could revoke if it sold the property. He noted Ek has agreed to a clause to protect the town from bearing liability for the farming, as well as a certificate of insurance.

Ek estimated his investment at $5,000, and said he would like a five-year agreement. He would ask the town to reimburse him only if he had to abandon the property before the contract expired. In return, he told the council he would be willing to mow the rest of the property and help maintain it by picking up trash. Ek said he has done extensive cleanup on the 10 acres of his land that abuts the town property.

"I just thought it was a good idea," Ek said. "But I guess not everyone has the same view."